PCEP Control Flow, Loops, Lists and Logic Practice Question

A developer writes the following code snippet:

for i in range(3):
    for j in range(2):
        if i == j:

break else:

print(i, 'outer')

What is the output?

⚠ Common exam trap

Python Institute often tests the `for-else` behavior in nested loops, and the trap here is that candidates mistakenly think the `else` runs after every outer iteration or that `break` only exits the outer loop, when in fact `break` only exits the innermost loop and the `else` is tied to that inner loop's completion status.

Answer choices

Why each option matters

Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.

Correct answer & explanation

✓

2 outer

The code uses nested loops with a `for-else` construct. The `else` block executes only if the inner loop completes without a `break`. When `i == j`, the `break` exits the inner loop, skipping the `else`. For `i=0`, `j=0` triggers `break`; for `i=1`, `j=1` triggers `break`; for `i=2`, the inner loop runs `j=0,1` without any `i==j` (since 2 != 0 and 2 != 1), so the `else` executes, printing `2 outer`. Thus, only option B is correct.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

✗
0 outer\n2 outer
Why it's wrong here
For i=0 the inner loop breaks at j=0, so the else is skipped; i=1 also breaks at j=0. Only i=2 exhausts j=0 and j=1 without a match, so the else prints '2 outer' alone. The break suppresses the else for the first two iterations.
✓
2 outer
Why this is correct
The inner loop breaks only when i equals j, so for i=0 and i=1 the else clause is skipped. For i=2, j never equals 2, so the inner loop completes and the else runs, printing '2 outer'.
✗
0 outer\n1 outer\n2 outer
Why it's wrong here
The inner loop breaks on the first iteration for every i (i equals j at j=0), so the else clause never runs and nothing prints. The claim of three lines assumes the break exits only the inner loop while the outer else still fires, but a break skips the else attached to the loop it terminates.
✗
No output
Why it's wrong here
There is output for i=2.

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PCEP Control Flow, Loops, Lists and Logic Practice Question

Why each option matters

Option-by-option breakdown

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